UPM biorefinery at Leuna, Germany delayed

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In Finland, forest-based fuels and chemicals maker UPM said its planned biobased ethylene glycol and propylene glycol plant at Leuna, German will be delayed about year, citing challenges stemming from the pandemic and widespread supply chain disruptions. 

“[T]he pandemic has materially slowed down the completion of the detailed engineering in Leuna,” says Jussi Pesonen, UPM president and CEO, in a press statement. “Disruptions to global supply chains have affected both the availability and costs of critical construction materials. As a result, we are updating our plans and estimate that the start-up would take place by the end of 2023. The capital expenditure estimate will be updated in due course.”  

The plant, which is also expected to manufacture lignin-based functional fillers, was originally estimated to cost €550-million ($615 million).